8.20pm: National's Mr Goldsmith and Act's Mr Seymour have been asked if enough is being done to tackle inequality.

Mr Seymour responded first, saying an increase in competition for lower-skilled jobs and a "welfare state" had failed to prepare New Zealanders for a competitive world.

He also used his answer to laud Social Development Minister Paula Bennett, attracting jeers from the crowd.

Mr Goldsmith said figures showed there had actually been a decrease in inequality recently, thanks to "an enormous amount of redistribution".

8.07pm: Christine Rankin has been asked what the Conservative's stance on the anti-smacking bill was.

Ms Rankin said they would repeal the law, drawing boos, sighs and calls of "shame" from the crowd.

8.04pm: Mr Hanson has now opened the floor for audience questions.

The first question was directed at Michael Wood, asking where unemployment sat when Labour was last in Government.

He said Labour drove unemployment down to 3.4 per cent, "the lowest in the developed world".

7.58pm: Her speech has attracted a peppering of "here here" from the crowd and polite applause.

Ms Haden said she was sued for defamation for more than $50,000 and her marriage suffered during her crusade against corruption.

"I don't mean to be a scaremonger, but this is what happened."

7.57pm: Ms Haden is using her time on the stand to lash out at corruption and the lack of transparency in the public sector, using her own previous battles as examples.

7.55pm: The final candidate, Grace Haden (independent) will be next to take the podium.

She now works from her Mt Eden home as a licensed private investigator, Hanson said.

7.53pm: Ms Rankin outlined the Conservatives policies, including introducing binding referenda, tougher laws, permanently outlawing legal highs and installing "one law for all New Zealanders, no more race-based policies and no more Maori seats."

If elected, Ms Rankin said she would expose "the Rolf Harris of New Zealand" through parliamentary privilege.

7.49pm: The Conservative Party's Christine Rankin was introduced, with Mr Hanson outlining her extensive background in both the public and private sector.

She took the podium to warm applause.

"When it's come to voting strategically you haven't had choice and that's what I bring to the contest," she said.

Ms Rankin said if she won the Epsom seat, she would bring three other MPs into Parliament with her based on current polling.

"On their best day Act will bring one....and good on him. I'm not some pawn in a bigger game."

Ms Genter said like many Aucklanders, she was not originally from New Zealand "as you can hear from my accent".

"I love living in this urban village that we have here in Mt Eden.

The Greens were ready to "step up and deliver", Ms Genter said.

She was appealing for the party vote from constituents gathered, the same as all Green candidates across the country.

Something was seriously wrong with the New Zealand that we love when 60 per cent of the nation's rivers weren't safe to be swum in, she said.

Ms Genter took her time on the podium to take a swipe at the Act/National Epsom deal - satirising the "stable, centre-right Government" rhetoric.

Greens were focusing on making rivers and beaches safe, not just for wading and boating, she said.

She also highlighted other Greens policies, including 20 hours-free ECE and free doctors visits for all children up to the age of 18 and free school lunches.

Everyone would receive tax-cuts, due to clamping down on carbon, Ms Genter said.

7.14pm: Mr Hanson said questions from the audience should be framed as questions and not speeches.

"Simple and direct is what I ask for."

Labour candidate Michael Wood, a 34-year-old father of two who lived in the community "drew the first marble" and was first to speak.

"He enjoys cricket, walking and Pink Floyd," Mr Hanson said.

Mr Wood started by welcoming his fellow constituents. "Including Paul Goldsmith, who I've only recently met."

He said he believed in democracy and fair representation.

The people of Epsom didn't deserve to be treated like pawns on a chessboard, Mr Wood said.

"At the last election ACT only got 2.5 per cent of the party vote...ACT believes in selling off the superannuation fund.

"ACT leader Jamie Whyte has even said that schools should be run more like supermarkets."

The politics of race-baiting were not the vales of Epsom or the people of New Zealand, Mr Wood said.

"I say, it's your choice."

7.02pm: The ring of a bell, "Kia ora tatou" and the debate has officially started.

"Welcome to the Mt Eden village centre and to the third meeting organised by the Mt Eden Village Society," MC Mark Thomas began.

Rodney Hanson QC, a Mt Eden resident and former High Court judge will be chairing the meeting.

"The rules for this debate are few and simple," he began.

The purpose of the meeting was to meet the candidates for Epsom and have questions from members of the audience asked of them.

6.59pm: Mt Eden Village Hall is almost filled to capacity ahead of the first public debate of the Epsom candidates.

The Green's Julie Ann Genter, National's Paul Goldsmith, ACT's David Seymour, Labour's Michael Wood, Pat O'Dea from Internet Mana and the Conservative's Christine Rankin have all gathered at the front of the hall, ready for the debate.